Skandia Cowes Week - Day 4

The Hunter 707 fleet start from the Squadron line on Day 4 of Skandia Cowes Week 2003 © Mark Jardine

Bright sunshine and a building easterly breeze that broke the 20-knot barrier before the day was out set the scene for the fourth day's racing at Skandia Cowes Week. For the first time this week there were no postponements and racing commenced on schedule. And even the 64-strong XOD fleet reverted to their traditional Squadron line start, much to the pleasure of the crowds ashore for whom the classic dayboat class always makes a great spectacle.

The close racing between Kit Hobday's Bear of Britain, Peter Harrision's Chernikeeff 2, and Nick Hewson's Volvo for Life Team Tonic, continued where it left off yesterday with all three immediately engaging in a close battle for the front of the fleet. Chernikeeff led off the line after a good start heading east along the Solent and, in a shifty easterly 8 knots of breeze headed off the island shore picking up a couple of useful shifts. Meanwhile Volvo for Life Team Tonic helmed by Jeremy Robinson headed to the north (mainland) shore for clean air away from the pack and made up some valuable time.

Commenting after the race Neal and Lisa McDonald from Team Tonic said: "It's always tricky with big boats to keep in clean air - we disappeared off to the north shore for this reason and it paid off. It was a terrific race for us today - with all three of the Farr 52s nose to tail all the way round the course, it was very tactical and almost like a three-boat match race. Both Bear and Chernikeeff have slightly bigger sails, hence the different handicap ratings. So our tactic is to keep slightly ahead of them, knowing that they've got to finish a minute ahead to beat us on corrected time."

But to focus solely on Chernikeeff, the Bear and Team Tonic would be to miss the point because, having completed their mini IRM regatta yesterday, they now find themselves in Class 0 IRC and there the plaudits once again went to Aera with Jez Fanstone enjoying an excellent return to Cowes at the helm. With a second and two firsts to her name before today, the Kerr 55 asserted her strong position in class by taking another first over four minutes ahead of Volvo for Life Team Tonic (just under three minutes on corrected time), a result that also places her at the head of the Black Group tonight.

The 707 fleet has to be one of the closest racing fleets here at Cowes. These equally matched David Thomas-designed small keelboat are known for offering incredibly competitive racing and today's performance was no exception.

After a reasonable start Jon Powell and his super-hot team aboard Betty powered their boat up in the good working easterly wind and rounded the windward mark in third position. A smart spinnaker hoist on the bear-off enabled Betty to squeeze in to the lead ahead of Synchro and Sharkin Mad in a broad reach heading towards the mouth of the River Hamble. With a lot at stake, the cool, calm and collected Powell kept the power on and, together with Synchro, started to pull away from the fleet rounding the leeward mark 10 seconds ahead.

From here on Betty continued to increase her lead and crossed the finish line two minutes ahead of Censored. Synchro missed out a mark and had to retire.

Powell commented: "We've got some really good boat speed this week. Up the first beat we headed out in to the stronger tide and reached the top mark in third. Once ahead we just concentrated in keeping in clear air to increase our lead. The race committee are generally tending to set us windward/leeward courses because they think we want them. For us however, with our non-asymmetric spinnakers, we would prefer courses with some good reaching legs."

Betty now sits at the head of the Hunter 707 standings, but only narrowly so against early pace-maker Chilli Chaser which could only manage a disappointing sixth today.

Another of the smaller classes to enjoy exciting, close racing today was the Laser SB3 class. Yesterday's race winner, Yachting World, helmed by Jonty Sherwill, started the race as they meant to continue by taking an immediate lead on the first beat. But during the bear-off, in a building breeze, the spinnaker ended up under the boat that resulted in them losing five places.

Having worked themselves up to second place once again Yachting World was thwarted once again when the metal plate on the jib clew pulled off. Determined to continue, the crew managed to fix the jib and work their way up the fleet once again into fourth place at the last leeward mark. Sitting out by their toenails, they then managed to take another place on the final beat and just missed second place by one second. No doubt it should make some good copy for Yachting World's technical editor on his penultimate race here at Skandia Cowes Week 2003.

Meanwhile Michael Ewart-Smith and team aboard Sublime kept their cool and crossed the line in first place. A tired and weary Sheahan commented after the race: "Despite our mishaps, we had a really fun day on the water and we're really pleased with the result even though we just missed second place. Our biggest tactical decision today was undoubtedly our move to sail well out of our way north around the Brambles Bank avoiding the worst of the tidal stream. It was here, on the long downwind leg, where we made up most of our lost places."

Laser SB3 group leader Stress Bunny hauled in only ninth today but the former J/24 sailor Colin Simonds can still look over his shoulder a comfortable distance to his next nearest challenger at this stage. Perhaps more stressed should be the SB3 Misb3have which suffered the ignominy of being hauled off the Brambles Bank by the Skandia Cowes Week website/Yachting World news reporting RIB.

In the Sportsboat fleet John Roberson is starting to make an impact taking his second win of the week in today's race which puts him in second place overall behind the J/80 Redshift. Sailing the Fremantle 8 Skandia Contribution, Roberson and team, which included co-owner Andrew Thorpe, former Skandia Cowes Week Media Centre Manager Lou-Lou Rendall, Alex Taylor from the Volvo Youth Squad and Mike Ridley from London Corinthian Sailing Club, started from the Squadron end of the line in clear air and soon found themselves engaged in what was to become a race-long battle with the J/80 Abstention 2. Roberson commented: "On the last leg we managed to get away from them. And at the last mark were one minute ahead. But they pushed us all the way."

Another Skandia Squad team member to come good in today's racing was Skandia Commitment, Simon Osgood's Folkboat racing in Class 9. Osgood's team was selected as a Skandia Squad member for the courage and commitment one of his crewmembers has shown in recovering from a serious motorbike accident. "I'm also committed to getting more people, especially younger people, into Folkboat racing," added Osgood.

The team was, however, fortunate in having Olympic class sailor Steve Mitchell on board today on the tiller. Osgood continued: "He certainly kept the boat upright! He did a bit of everything and I think he enjoyed his day. He hasn't sailed a Folkboat before, only a Sonata in 1990 that he thinks is the closest he's got! It took him length of the second beat to get the hang of the helming but he did quite well, better than Iain Percy yesterday! Had a DNF yesterday so there was a bit of competition between Iain and Steve and Steve came out on top despite us being OCS at the start. We went back round the line, had a committee boat start off Beaulieu."

At the head White Group this evening is the Victory Unity after scoring another win today, his third of the week (the fourth race having been abandoned on Sunday). Helmsman John Tremlett and co-owner Jeremy Lear were two seconds late to the line but lead the fleet all the way to the windward mark and for there on to the finish line. All of which is a little surprising as the boat had been sitting in a garden providing a microclimate for moss for eight years prior to the start of this season. Lear would usually have been sailing Victory sail number 69, but his usual steed is on a compulsory year's sabbatical out of the water while awaiting refit. So the decision was made to buy into another Victory as the owner was not exactly looking to take the sabbatical himself. Unity is carrying 69's sails, even though numbered 70, which has confused some but there's no confusion about the way this team has set about its racing here this week.

All in all today was the best day yet, with salt-encrusted crew able to get back to the beer tent in good time. But will the wind last? There's a chance of a shower or two this evening and some early mist patches in the morning. The low pressure out to the west that provided a useful gradient wind against the high to the east is moving north now. As it does so the wind speed will drop and the direction will veer to west or south-west in the morning. While there is not much for anyone to get excited about on tomorrow's synoptic, that south-westerly direction bodes well for the development of an afternoon sea breeze.

Odds on a postponement flag in the morning anyone?

CCC Director evolves shorten course solution

Stuart Quarrie, Director of Cowes Combined Club, has reacted swiftly to criticism from yacht crews after several classes were unable to finish their races on Sunday and many boats crossed the finishing lines out of time when the wind rapidly died contrary to the prevailing forecast.

Committee boats were stretched to the limit in the Solent as they raced to try and shorten each course before the yachts lost the breeze altogether and started to move backwards on the tide. Stuart's solution was to issue Amendment 2 to the Sailing Instructions. Speaking to Tracey Clarke he explained the change:

"We've now got the facility to put any boat just with a flag, a number board and a fog horn at a mark which tells all of the passing boats that their finish line is at another mark, down-tide, or whatever. So with three or four boats specifically available to shorten the course and half-a-dozen spotter boats we more than double our facility for shortening courses. We're pleased we were able to look at a problem, work out a solution to it and progress."

Amendment 2 was published on the Skandia Cowes Week website yesterday; scan down the column to the right of this story for details.

Sail-assisted cancer campaigns

Two notable efforts to boost funds in the fight against cancer have emerged at this year's Skandia Cowes Week.

The event's nominated charity, Sail 4 Cancer, has been formed to provide and assist in the provision of facilities for sailing holidays and training days with the object of improving the conditions of life for those suffering from cancer and their families. It also aims to relieve sickness among people suffering from cancer, by financing treatment and associated care at institutions nationwide and by promoting independent research into the prevention and treatment of cancer.

The founders of the charity have a serious incentive because they have all lost a close friend or relative to cancer in recent years. Their input is offered on a voluntary basis. And their initiative has been boosted by the addition of the charity's first patron.

Admiral the Lord Michael Boyce, the former Chief of Defence Staff and First Sea Lord, yesterday pledged his support to the Sail 4 Cancer charity, expressing his surprise at the huge amount the charity has achieved since its formation.

Andy Hayward, co-founder of Sail 4 Cancer, was pleased to have such an influential figure to add support to the charity. "I'm delighted to welcome him on board...and I'm looking forward to announcing a number of other high profile signings from the sailing world."

Further information at www.sail4cancer.org.uk

Meantime another high profile figure, Bear of Britain owner Kit Hobday, has launched his own cancer campaign. 'Ignorance Isn't Bliss' is targeted specifically at prostate cancer. The project has a list of supporters that includes Peter Harrison, Peter de Savary and Mike Slade plus Hobday himself.

"The reason for my interest is that I have unfortunately picked up a severe dose of prostatic cancer of the spine," Hobday explains. "We're aiming to raise a minimum of UKP250,000 for two campaigns. The first is a medical campaign because the Government doesn't handle the problem well. The second, 'ignorance is not bliss', will be designed to capture women's attention. This is because my wife is aware that men do not make their own medical decisions."

As reported on this site earlier in the week, Bear of Britain meets Harrison's Chernikeeff 2 in a series of extra-curricular match races off the Marine Parade starting this evening. There is a side bet of UKP5,000 sitting on the result between the old adversaries but whatever the result Ignorance Isn't Bliss is set to be the beneficiary of the winnings.

Day 4 Results:

Class 0 IRC
1, Aera (N. Lykiardopulo)
2, Volvo For Life Team Tonic (Nick Hewson)
3, Bear Of Britain (Kit Hobday and Tim Louis)

Euro Prix 45
1, Wolf (Glynn Williams)
2, Timberland Euro Prix (Edward Leask)
3, Victric (Tony De Mulder)

Class 1 IRC
1, Desperado (Richard Loftos)
2, Alvine Xiii (Harry Evans)
3, McFly (Tony Mack)

Class 2 IRC
1, Yes! Murphy & Nye (Adam Gosling)
2, Chernikeeff 3 (Nick Harrison)
3, Holmatro (J J Meijer)

Prima 38
1, Kylidh (Guy Spurr)
2, Mostly Harmless (Tom Hayhoe & Natalie Jobling)
3, Firestorm (Jon Perry)

Class 3 IRC
1, Royal Blue Addict (Ian Handley, Jennie Austin, & Andrew Fitton)
2, Partnership Challenge (St James's Place)
3, Salvo (Mr and Mrs Peter Morton)

Beneteau 40.7
1, Royal Blue Addict (Ian Handley, Jennie Austin, & Andrew Fitton)
2, Partnership Challenge (St James's Place)
3, Beam On (Stuart & Jane Hemingway)

Class 4 IRC
1, Deliverance (Russell Hodgson)
2, Capitali$M (Tim Harrington)
3, Skandia Passion (Tom & Dianne Andrews)

HOD 35
1, Capitali$M (Tim Harrington)
2, Owl (Peter Bruce)
3, Zarafa (Major Peter Scholfield)

Class 5 IRC
1, Great Scot II (Eurof Phillips & Barbara Mackay)
2, Winsome (Harry J Heijst)
3, Sleeper (Jonty Layfield)

Class 6 IRC
1, Prime Cut (Peter Parker)
2, Software Mistress (Ian Maclean)
3, Cracker (Stephen & Carole Heppell)

Class 7 IRC
1, Cloud Nine (Martyn Wheatley)
2, Madelaine (Edward Donald)
3, Tsunami (Roger & Liz Swinney)

Class 8 ISC
1, Antidote (Colin Bishop)
2, Hotwatch II (David Clementi)
3, Sky Hunter (Peter Bainbridge)

Class 9 ISC
1, Witchcraft (David McDonald)
2, Skandia Commitment (Mr Simon Osgood and Dr Stewart Becker)
3, Cloud Cuckoo (John Stork)

J-Sprit
1, J Spirit (Mrs Marie-Claude Heys)
2, Jazolo (Robert Shaw)
3, Jalfrezi (Hon Christopher Sharples & Oliver Stanley)

J-92
1, Vampire (David Moore)
2, Big Wednesday (Roger Mavity)
3, Moby J (Mark Franklin)

Contessa 32
1, Polar Star (Sebastian Gardner)
2, South Haze (John Holloway & Stuart Paton)
3, Equator (Kay & Simon Porter)

Mumm 30
1, Bushfire (Cian O'Carroll and Tom Hill)
2, Pogo Bogo (David Knight)
3, Sardonyx VI (William Edwards)

Sigma 33
1, Honey Of Bosham (Joanna Brigg)
2, Hooligan (Steve Sault)
3, Whippa Snappa (Richard J Puddifoot)

Sigma 38
1, Red Macaw (John & Jackie Edwards)
2, Skandia Creativity (Hans Hollander)
3, Mefisto (Kevin Sussmilch)

Sunsail 37
1, Sunsail 66 (Felpham Sailing Club)
2, Sunsail 80 (Polypipe plc)
3, Sunsail 63 (MDM Citroen)

Sunsail 36
1, Sunsail 11 (Team Imperial College)
2, Sunsail 13 (Team Endeavour)
3, Sunsail 19 (Team Shamrock)

X332
1, Crikey V! (Nigel Theadom)
2, Yellow Rose (Marten Jan Ringers)
3, Pittolo Bill (Ian Smyth)

1720
1, Polyphagus (Stephen Porter)
2, Boats.Com (Ian Atkins)
3, Oi! (Swalwell, Vance & Cooper)

Daring
1, Dynamite (A. D. N. Balme, A. S. Collins & D. H. Winton)
2, Dionysus (Bruce Huber)
3, Dauntless (M B Carver & G A Peckham)

Hunter 707
1, Betty (Jon Powell)
2, Censored (Derek Blancke)
3, Synchro (RAFSA)

International Dragon
1, Chaotic (Richard Jordan)
2, Caramba (C Brittain & G Hamilton)
3, Hestia (Frank Van Benningen)

International Etchells
1, Love Shack (Tim Spalding & Gareth Lloyd Jones)
2, El Toro (Messers Hayden, Watson & Williamson)
3, Fuzzy Duck IV (Woodman, Proudlove & Ford)

International Flying Fifteen
1, Friendly Fire (Barry Rolfe)
2, Affore The Week (Nick & Estelle Clarke)
3, Cruella (Jonathan Hill)

Laser SB3
1, Sublime (M. Ewart-Smith & B. Richards)
2, Full Chat (Mark Richards)
3, Yachting World (Matthew Sheahan)

National Sonata
1, Pizzicato (Tom White)
2, Crisis (Giles Palin)
3, Chrysalis (Christopher Bentley)

National Squib
1, Artful Dodger (Nick Emery)
2, Firestreak (Miss Sarah Everitt)
3, Firecracker Too (Andrew Porteous)

National Swallow
1, Serenade (Mr & Mrs Hugh Kemlo)
2, Curlew (Malcolm Green)
3, Echo (Charles Hindson)

Redwing
1, Quail (Edmund Peel & James Wilson)
2, Lady Laetitia (William F Clegg, William H Clegg & Erik Cole)
3, Paroquet (Meri & Keith Benham)

RS K6
1, Courageous (T J R Sheldon)
2, Fat Face (Paul Rudling)
3, The Wright Team (Phil Wright)

Seaview Mermaid
1, Cynthia (John Sandiford-Haigh)
2, Sirena (Noel Dobbs, Richard Dobbs & Alexander Dobbs)
3, Jade (Will Caws & John Betchley)

Solent Sunbeam
1, Polly (Jonathan Money)
2, Comedy (Robert Bailey)
3, Daisy (Mike Moss & Mike Law)

Sonar
1, Puff Pirate (D Bates & P Bowen)
2, Scintillate (R A H Perkins)
3, Yachts And Yachting (James Day & Jamie Reid)

Sportsboats
1, Skandia Contribution (John Roberson & Andrew Thorpe)
2, Just Savage (Liz Savage)
3, Redshift (Edward Fishwick)

Bull 7000
1, Hullabulloo (Martin Forster)
2, Cow'S Rig (David Neate)
3, Bullwinkle (John Sheldrake)

Victory
1, Unity (J R Lear & S Spraggs)
2, Zelia (G P & S M J Dixon)
3, Hawk (M & J Hunter)

X One Design
1, Blue On Blue (Willy McNeil & Andrew Tredrea)
2, Lass (Simon Russell, Darren Maple & Leanne Akhurst)
3, Kyperini (Kim Slater & Alistair Evans)

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Skandia Cowes Week section